“Enjoyed our holiday , boat was well equipped and comfortable, only problem was the table, it was very awkward try to get in and out for 4 people, A freestanding one that can be moved would be better , overall it was a great holiday”
“Extremely disappointing — think twice before booking
Our experience with Barnes Brinkcraft was absolutely unacceptable, especially considering how much money we spent.
The boat was poor and did not meet the standard we expected for the price we paid. When we raised concerns and asked for advice during the holiday, instead of feeling like valued customers, we felt we were given attitude and made to feel like our concerns were an inconvenience.
Then things got even worse. We paid a £500 deposit and left our car parked at the Barnes Brinkcraft yard for four days. The car was spotless when we left it. When we returned, it had apparently been damaged and there was red paint over the damaged area. We immediately raised this with the company and have been trying to get answers, but dealing with the situation has been incredibly frustrating.
For a company charging the amount of money they do, we expected much better customer service, accountability and care for customers’ property.
The whole experience has left us feeling extremely disappointed and out of pocket. We certainly won’t be booking with Barnes Brinkcraft again, and based on our experience, we would seriously advise people to do their research before handing over their money.
A holiday should not leave you having to chase a company for answers about damage to your car and feeling like your concerns aren’t being taken seriously.”
Dear Robert,
We’re sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your holiday.
We do need to correct an important point in your review: the car damage was first reported to us 19 days after your holiday ended, rather than immediately on your return.
Given that delay, we cannot establish when or where the damage occurred, and we do not accept responsibility for it. We will not be offering a refund or compensation in relation to the car damage.
We are also not aware of concerns being raised about Concerto or our team’s manner during your stay. If you would like us to investigate those points, please provide details of the issues and who you spoke to.
Kind regards,
Barnes Brinkcraft
“The boat was tired, when it was raining it leaked in 2 different places, this was highlighted at the end of our hiring. Also we had to buy a screwdriver set to tighten up screws that were coming out both within the cabin and to external fittings.
We hired the Concerto on basis that both bedrooms wereof equal size looking at the diagrams given to us, the rear bedroom was but the front was cramped and suffocating.
The seating area cabinet was too high, we had to pile cushions to be able to seat correctly when eating.
All faults were highlighted to Brinkcraft, there has been no comeback from them.”
Dear Robert,
We’re sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your holiday.
We do need to correct an important point in your review: the car damage was first reported to us 19 days after your holiday ended, rather than immediately on your return.
Given that delay, we cannot establish when or where the damage occurred, and we do not accept responsibility for it. We will not be offering a refund or compensation in relation to the car damage.
We are also not aware of concerns being raised about Concerto or our team’s manner during your stay. If you would like us to investigate those points, please provide details of the issues and who you spoke to.
Kind regards,
Barnes Brinkcraft
“The Concerto suited us perfectly.
Our only concern was the late time allocated for our trial run which lasted about 15 minutes.
Instructions were limited resulting in numerous problems and telephone calls at the start of our holiday.”
“Boat looking very tired. Went on the Concerto 5 years ago and seemed much smarter. The bed conversion in the galley was now lacking and ill-fitting. We had rain only on one evening, fortunately, as the central ceiling window and kitchen windows both leaked, dripping into the main galley area. Spent an hour looking for the winch trip switch at the rear of the back bedroom, the location being indicated in the handbook. Rang the boatyard to be told the switch was, in fact, in the front bedroom. Post holiday greeting by Barnes Brinkcraft staff was non-existent. Definitely an area that needs to be improved. Having said all the above, we enjoyed our holiday and the comments are offered as constructive advise not as a complaint.”
Thanks for the review Janet. We're really pleased Concerto helped make your first Broads holiday such an enjoyable one. She’s a great boat to build your confidence on, and we hope it’s the first of many boating holidays.
All the best,
The Team at Barnes Brinkcraft
“We had a good holiday. I feel the Concerto 1 is a bit tired, either in need of a good refurbishment or retirement. Steering from the mid deck was challenging, the fridge was very tired, overall the boat is feeling its age.”
Dear Andrew
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re pleased to hear you had a good holiday, but we’re sorry that Concerto 1 felt tired in places and that some aspects of the boat didn’t meet expectations.
We really do appreciate this kind of feedback, as it helps us identify where attention is needed. We’ll be reviewing the points you raised, including the fridge, steering from the mid deck and the overall condition of the boat, as part of our ongoing maintenance and improvement programme.
Thank you again for your comments, and we hope we’ll have the chance to welcome you back for an even better holiday in the future.
All the Best
The Team at Barnes Brinkcraft
Thanks for the review, Kevin. We're pleased you had a great holiday aboard Concerto and found her easy to use. You and the crew look like you had a great time!
All the best,
The Team at Barnes Brinkcraft
